Skein-binding mechanism



M. O. CLAUSS.

SKEIN BINDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, i920- 4 SHEETS-SHEET l- INVENTOR. .flZaJr 0. Glaasa,

ATTOR Y Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

M. 0. CLAUSS. SKEIN BINDING MECHANISM. APPLICATIQN FILED MAY 14, I920.

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- M. O. CLAUSS.

SKEIN BINDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1920.

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

r 'INVEN'TOR,

J? a; amwsp BY M/ row/5y M. O. CLAUSS.

SKEIN BINDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1920 fi -a Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

4 $HEETSSHEET 4- UNITED s AT s PATENT OFFICE.

max oTTo CLAUSS, OF NEW YORK} N. Y., ASSIGNOR To THE CLARK THREAD coM- IPANY, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY.

sxEIN-RI mNG MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, MAX OTTo CLAUss, a citizen of the Republic of Germany, and a resident of the borough of Bronx, city of New York, and county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skein-Binding Mechanism,

- of which the following is a description.

This invention relates to an improved skein binding mechanism, and generically considered contemplates the provision of means for automatically applying a flexible binder and securely attaching the same in place upon a part of the skein.

More particularly the .present invention I provides an automatlc mechanism for this purpose which is primarily designed for use in combination with a skeln winding mechanism of the character shown and described in my prior application for patent, filed September 18, 1919, Serial No. 324,530, wherein a plurality of skeins are successively wound upon spaced holders mounted upon an endless carrier.

binding mechanism I propose to provide means for automatically feeding a flexible binding "strip, preferably of paper, in position to be applied to the skein and cutting off a predetermined lengthof the flexible binding strip, means operating to fold the severed length of the binding material upon .itself around a part of the skein, and means subse feeding the flexible binding strip into posi quently actuated tosecurely fasten the. ends of the flexible binder to each other.

It is also an important object of my invention to provide simple andefi'ectiv'e' means for gripping and. holding the skein'thread extending betweenspacedskeins onthe endless oarrier and severingsaid thread between the skeins. i

I have also provided improved means for In one practical embodiment of the skein Specification of Letters Patent. Patent d D 27 1921 Application filed May 14,

1920. Serial No. 381,283.

ing drawings, and subsequently defined in the' subjoined claims.

In the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred practical embodiment of my invention, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating one embodiment of my improved skein binding mechanism.

.'Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the binding mechanism in its normal position with respect to the skein holders.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the binder in operative position at an intermediate point in the binding operation.

Fig. 4 is a detailedelevation of the thread gripping means.

Fig. 5 .is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Flg. 6.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6,- showing the parts in full .lines in their normal relative position, and in dotted lines in an intermediate position.

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the folding and clamping means for the flexible binding element and the binder fastening member at the end of the binding operation.

Fig. 10 is a detailed fragmentary perspective-view of the folding and clamping memher for the binding element.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the bearing plate for the flexible binding element.

Fig. 12 is a similar view partly broken away, of the binder fastening member.

Fig. 13 is a detail section taken on the line 13-l3 of Fig. 9.

I this carrier are indicated at 11. The detail Fig. 14 is an elevation showing a skein having a binder applied. thereto.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged detail elevation of a binder as applied to the skein.

Fig. 16 is a section taken on the line 1616 of Fig. 15-, and,

Fig. 17 is a section taken on the line 17-17 of Fig. 15.

As above stated, my present invention is designed for use in combination with a skeining machine in which a plurality of skein holders are mounted upon an endless carrier. This endless carrier, as herein illustrated, is designated by the numeral 10, while the individual spaced holders mounted upon form and construction of the skein holders is not essential to a clear understanding of the present invention, but these holders are preferablyof the construction shown and described in m copending application for patent, filed ecember 23, 1919, Serial No. 346,837. The manner of winding the thread upon the individual holders to form the skeins likewise forms the subject matter of a third co-pending application filed August 1, 1919, Serial No. '314,647,while the specific skein winding mechanism is described and claimed in my prior application first above referredto. The means for automatically imparting a step by step movement to the endless carrier to succcessively bring the holders, into position to receive the skein windings is likewise fully disclosed in a fourth co-pending application filed December 23, 1919, Serial No. 346,836. These several mechanismsand constructions will not,

therefore, beherein further described in detail. 4 For the purposes of this explanation it will suflice to state that the endless carrier 10 is in the form of one or more link chains,

and traverses operating sprockets mounted llpon vertically spaced shafts 6. Power is flier operating mechanism shown in application Serial No. 324,530.

In my present invention I have illustrated only the flier'arm 29' and the actuating shaft 18'for said arm. v

In the adaptation of the binding mechanism" forming the subject matter of the present applic'atlon to a skeining machine embod ing the several mechanisms of my prior app ications, as above identified, I provide upon the upper sprocket of the endless chain carrier for'the skeins, a plurality of spaced diametrically opposed brackets 12, which project from the side face of the sprocket in parallel relation to the shaft 6, and have their end portions angularly bent outwardly in a radial direction, as at 13, each bracket terminating in an angularly projecting flange 14. The portions 18 and 14 of each bracket are centrally slotted as at 15, and the arm at each side of the slot is provided with an opening 16 therein. To the horizontally disposed portion of each bracket one end of a pair of wire springs 17 is securely fixed, each of said springs having a portion bent upon itself and projecting inwardly from the bracket at one side thereof, and formed with a coil 17'. From the coil the wire springextends outwardly adjacent to the angular portion 13 of the bracket, as shown at 19, and is then again bent upon itself and inwardly extended. The free end portion of the wire spring 19 is angularly bent and normally projects throu 11 one of the .openings 16 of the bracket. hese wire springs are adapted to clamp or grip the thread extendin between spaced skeins on the carrier, and he d the same against the bracket arm 13 while the thread is being cut. The operation of this thread gripping means and the cutting mechanism will be more fully disclosed in detail in the following description.

The thread cutting and skein binding mechanism are operatively mounted upon one end of a supporting arm 22. This arm at its other end is loosely mounted for turning or pivotal movement upon a vertical post 23, which is suitably fixed to a convenient part of the frame structure of the machine. Thus it will be understood that this arm, together with the mechanism carried thereby, is adapted for bodily swinging movement in a horizontal plane.

Upon the binder operating shaft 21 a cam disk 24 is fixed, said disk having a cam track in its inner face to receive studs or pins 25 on e 'ject matter of a copending appllcation, Se-

rial No. 387,968,,filed June 10, 1920.

There is also fixed upon the binder shaft 21 a cylindrical member 28, upon one end of which a flange 29, having a. cam face 30, is formed. A similar flange 31, provided with the cam face 32 is also formed upon the opposite end of the member 28. Between these cam flanges the member 28 is provided with a circumferentially extending cam groove or track 33. A roller 34, mounted upon the un der side of the arm 22 isengaged in this cam track, whereby the desired horizontal pivotal movement is imparted to said arm.

Upon the other end 'of the arm 22 a standard 35 is fixed. The standard is formed with vertically spaced laterally pro-- jecting, arms 37, between which a peripherally knurled feeding roller 38 is disposed,

said roller having a vertically disposed spindle mounted in the arms 37 of the standard. At one side of theroller 38 'a paper strip guide roller 39 is also rotatably mounted between the arms 37. To the upper end of the spindle of the feed roller 38 a ratchet disk 40. isfixed and an arm 40' .is loosely mounted upon the spindle above this disk, and extends indiametrically opposite directions. Upon one end of. this arm 1 a spring pressed pawl 41 is pivotally mounted and yieldingl held in operative contact with the perlp cry of the ratchet disk. The other end of thearm 40 is pivo- Y tally connected by means of the link 42 to curved plate havin a fixedpart of the machine frame. J Upon the standard a paper stri guide 43 is suitably secured. This gui e, as herein shown, is in the form of a transversely its edge portions 44 bent over upon the ody of the plate, and

slightlyv s aced from the latter in parallel.

v relatio'nt ereto.- The end ofthe body poi tion of the plate at one end of the guide extends beyond the corresponding ends. of

- the outer portions 44 of the guide, and is curved inwardly toward the periphery of the feed roller 38, as shown at 45. he ends of the outer portion 44 of the guide facing thefeed roller are slightly bent or turned in an outward direction, as at 46, so that the paper strip indicated at- S may move freely over the extended end 45 of the guide and between the body thereof and the outer portions 44, without nterruption.

It will be apparent that as the pa or binding trip is fed between the paral el trans versely curved portions of the guide '43,

* said strip will be transversely bowed "or 43. A movable cuttin blade 49 is pivotally curved in conformity thereto.

To the front vertical edge of the standard '35 a shear blade 47 is fixed, said blade having a cutting edge 48 curved in concentric relation to the transversely curved guide mounted on the stan ard 35 at its lower end, as at 50, and at its upper endis provided with the curved cutting edge 51 adapted to cooperate with the cutting edge of the fixed blade. 47. This pivoted cutter 49 is formed with a laterally projecting arm 52, having a camslot 53. This slot receives a roller 54 mounted upon the end of a plate 55. This plate is loosely engaged upon the vertically disposed pivot rod"56, which is rotatably mounted on one of the arms 37 and the additional arm 57 formed upon the standard 35. Between the arm 57 and the plate 55 oneend of a plate 58 is engaged,

and securely fixed to the vertical rod 56.

This plate extends forwardly at one side of the standard and the loosely mounted plate 55 is formed with an arm 59 which -overlies the forward extension ofthe plate 58. One end of said arm is provided with an angularly disposed lug 60 through which the threaded end of a rod til-fixed in the plate 58 is loosely'engaged. A coiled expansion spring 62' surrounds said rod between the plate 58 and the lug 60. A nut 63 is threaded on the rod 61, whereby the tension of the spring 62 may be properly adjusted. Upon the forward end of the plate 58 an adjustable stop screw I 64 is mounted, and is adapted to engage the standard 35 to limit the pivotal'movement .of said plate in one direction.

The superposed plates 55 and 58 are actuated through the medium of a bell crank lever 65, pivotally mounted, as at 66, upon the arm 22. One arm of this leveris provided with a roller 67 to operatively engage the cam face of the flange 31 on the rotary operating member 28. Theother arm of said bell crank lever is pivotally connected by means of the rod 68 to the plate 55.

F The standard 35 is also formed with a horizontally disposed forwardly projecting arm- 69, and adjacent to the standardthis arm is provided with an opening70, while one side of the arm is formed with a re- ,cess 71in line with said opening. An angular hearing or supporting-plate 72 for the paper binding strip, is fixed at one of its ends to the arm 69, while the other end" thereof overlies theopen side of the recess 71. This latter end of the angular bearing plate is provided with an openlng 73 therein conforming in sha e to the cross sectional contour of the binding strip fastening member, to be subsequently referred to. At the juncture of the two angular portions of the plate 72 a slot 74 is centrally formed there- 1n, and communicates at one of its ends with the opening 73. Upon the free end of said supporting late spaced prongs or projections 75 are ormed and curved inwardlv, toward the opening 70. These curve projections serve as directing or guide means for the transversely curved paper strip as it moves over and upon the end ortion of the plate 72, having the open- The plate 58 is provided upon its forward g'ularly projecting finger 98 on the thread end of this post a horizontal plate 79 is fixed. In the plates 79 and 58 the upper and lower ends, respectively, of a vertically disposed spindle 80 are journaled, and this spindle at its lower end is formed or provided with a gear segment .81 with which rack teeth 82 on the forward end of the arm 59 coa'ct. The spindle 80 adjacent-its upper end is provided with a laterally projecting bifurcated lug 83, in which the shank of the paper strip folding member 84: is pivotally mounted. This. folding member is yieldingly held in a normal position by means of a coil spring 85', arranged-upon the pivot pin which i's'fixed in the lug 83. In operation the shank of the folding member 84 rides against an anti-frictional roller 86 mounted in the arm 69 at the outer side of the opening 70 therein. This member at its free end is provided with a relatively broad hook shaped portion 87 extending between the spaced. plates 76, which serve as guides therefore. The end'of this hook shaped portion of the member 84 is provided with vertically spaced notches or recesses 88 separated by a central finger 89. These recesses are each approximately of the same shape as one side of the opening 73 in the plate 7 2. The shank of the'member 84 at its pivoted end abuts against a stop plate 90, which limit-s the movement of said member 'to its normal position under the action of the .spring 85.

The upper end of the standard 35, is provided with'an inclined face upon which a plate 91 is fixed. On this plate a thread cutting element 92 is pivoted at one of its ends, as at 93. The lower end of the plate 91- is formed with a forwardly projecting arm or extension 94 upon which asubstantially U-shaped member 95 is pivotally' mounted, the arms of said member projectingupwardly in parallel relation to the plate 91. The thread cutting member 92 is nor- -mally engaged between the ends of the U- shaped member 95, and is yieldingly held in such position by means of the wire spring 96, the intermediate portion of which is coiled around a stud 97 fixed in the plate 91. One endof this springengages an ancutting element '92 at'one side of its pivot 93, and at the other side of said pivot the element 92 is provided with a stop lug 99 to engage the plate 91 and limit the movement of the thread cutting element to its normal position. The wire spring is extended from the coil upon the opposite side of the stud 97, and is coiled as at 100, around the pivot of the member 95, the terminal of the wire spring being engaged with one of the arms of said member to urge the same in an outward direction.

The forward end of the cutting element neonate 92 has its front edge obliquely inclined, and provided with an angularflange 101, at the lower inner end of which said element is 1 formed with the shoulder 102, which is cut the thread in a manner to be presently disclosed.

A binder fastening member 105 is mounted to have reciprocating movements in a guide channel 104'formed in the upper end of an upright rising from the bracket 103 secured to the arm 22. .The 0 en side of the guide channel is closed by tie face plate 106, which is slotted to receive a toothed rack 107 secured upon one side of the memher 105. This rack is engaged by the seg mental gear 108, which is fixed upon the vertical shaft 109 journaled at its lower end in the bracket 103, and at its upper end in an arm 110. A pinion 111 is also fixed upon the shaft 109, and is engaged by the gear teeth 112 formed upon one end of a lever 113, which is fhlcrumed, as at 114, intermediate of its ends upon the arm 22. The other end of this lever carries a roller 115 to engage the cam .face 30 on the flange 29. The lever 113 is connected to the bell crank lever 65 by means of a coil spring 116,

.which yieldingly holds the rollers 115 and 67 in contact with the cam faces 30 and 32 respectively. I

Upon a suitable support 117 fixed to the machine frame the roll of flexible binding material .118 is mounted. This material preferably consists of a paper strip of the requisite width, which is drawn from the roll around a horizontally projecting guide pin 119 and then between spaced vertical guide pins 120 on the support 117. The paper strip then passes'around the guide roller 39, and is positively fed in a forward direction by the knurled surfaces of the roller 38.

Assuming that the parts ofthe mechanism are positioned as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings, at the proper time in the operation of the machine the binder operating shaft 21 is rotated, and the cam track 33 coacting with the roller 34 shifts the arm 22 to the position seen in Fig. 3; In such movement of the arm and the mechanism mounted thereon, that portion of a completely wound skein extending between the spaced parts of the skein holderlocated at one side flange 101 uponthe thread, the spaced arms of the member 95 engage the ends of the wire springs 17 which project through the openings 16 in one of the'brackets 12, and force the downwardly extending upper end portions of the respective springs away from the bracket arms at opposite sides of the slot 15. The flange 10.1 bearing upon the thread forces the thread downwardly between the parts of the bracket and the opposed portions of the springs 17 until the cutting edge or shoulder 102 of the element 92 moves over or in advance. of the thread. The cam face 32 of the flange 31 now engages the roller 67 on the bell crank lever 65, and through the medium of the connecting rod 68 the plate 55 andthe plate 58 are pivotally moved together as a unit, said plates being connected to each other through the medium of the rod 61 and spring 62. In the initial movement of these plates the roller 54 on the plate 55 operating in the cam slot 53 actuates the movable knife blade 49 which coacts with the cutting edge 48 of the shear blade 47, and severs the end portion of the paper binding strip which projects beyond or for wardly of the guide 43. During the unitary movement of the plates 55 and 58 the shank of the folding member 84 moves through the opening 70, thus projecting the hooked end 87 of said member between the projecting portions of the plates 76. When the stop,

screw 64 engages the standard the pivotal movement of the plate 58 is arrested. The continued movement of the rod 68,-however, causes the plate to move relatively to the plate 58. Accordingly it is seen that the teeth 82 on the arm 59 of the plate 55 coacting with the teeth 81 on the vertical spindle 80 will effect a rotation of said spindle and thus move the member '84 connected to the upper end of the spindle laterally and in a forward direction, and finally cause a reverse movement of said member to engage the curved or hooked partthereofover the skein,

.which is positioned in the notch 77, and disposethe notches or recesses 88, in the end of the hook, in registering relation with the opening 73 in the plate 72. In this manner it will be seen that the paper binding strip,

which has been severed, is bent over upon itself by the initial movement of the hooked end 87 of the folding member, and *that the ends of the paper binder are finally brought together and clamped by the spaced prongs of'the hook 87 upon each other and over the opening 73 in the plate 72.

'It only remains to complete the binding of the skein to securely fasten the ends of the folded paper binder together, and for this purpose I have provided a simple and novel form of clenching or fastening means.

with the transversely spaced longitudinally extending cutting bits or points 121, each of which has its inner side face at each longitudinal edge thereof beveled or chamfered,

as at 122. Each cutting bit is further provided with the obliquely inclined cuttingedge 123, and the beveled surfaces 124, which converge toward one side or edge of the bit, and together withthe inclined longitudinal surface 122, meet in the piercing point 125. In the'next, operation these cutting bits are caused to act upon the superposed ends of the paper binder in the. following manner:

The cam face 30, engaging the roller 115 on the end of the lever 113 rocks said lever upon its fulcrum 114, and through the medium of the pinion 111 engaging the toothed end 112 of said lever, actuates the gear segment 108. This gear segment coacrting with the rack 107 moves the hinder fastening member 105. The clrtting bits 121 of said member pass through the corresponding recesses 88 in the hooked end of the folding member 84, and the points 125 of said bits pierce the ends of the folded binder strip,

and the edges 1230f said bits cleanly out through the paper. The cross sectional form of each bit approximately conforms to the shape of one side of the opening 73 so that spaced perfo-raltions are formed through the ends of the binder, The

-7 3, in the plate 72. The roller 67 of the bell crank 65 moves upon the low portion of the cam face 32, sothat the folding member 84 will return to its normal position, after which the walls of the cam track 33 coacting with the roller 34 reverses the pivotal movement of the'arm 22, and returns said ar'in to its normal position. In thisreturn movement of the arm with the binding mechanism to normal position it will be apparent upon a comparison of Figs. 2 and 3, that the link 42, being connected at one of its ends to a. fixed part ofa machine frame, will turn the arm 40, and the pawl 41 connected to this. arm, by engaging one tooth of the ratchet disk 40, rotates the paper strip feeding roller 38 in the direction indicated by the arrow, and effects a posi tive feed of the paper binding strip through the guide 43, over the opening 7 0, and upon the plate72 over the opening 73 therein. Of course in the movement of the binding mechanism to operative position in relation tiona-ry while the pawl 41 moves idly upon" the periphery of the disk.

It is to be notedthat there is no interference with this return movement of the binding mechanism by reason of the fact that the clenched portion of the paper binder projects inwardly through the opening '73, since the plate 72 is provided with the slot 7 1, which communicates with this opening, and in which the clenched tongues of the binder are readily accommodated in such return movement of the binder mechanism with relation to the. skein.

During the several steps of the binding operation the formation of the next skein at the upper side of the carrier is completed, and in the return movement of the binder mechanism to normal position, the spaced parts of the member 95 move away from the terminal ends of the springs 17, so that said springs return'to their normal positions, and securely grip or clamp the thread strand against the spaced parts of the bracket 12. As the binder mechanism 'r turns, knife edge 102 of the element 92 which has been projected beyond the thread strand extending between the two carriers then engages the thread strand and cuts or severs the same, the cutting knife being forced downwardly into the slot 15 of the bracket by the action of the wire spring 96.

Thus it will be seen that in each return movement of the binding mechanism to normal position, the "bound skein will be separated from the next skein in the series, the formation of which has just been completed. In. the continued operation of the machine I w a a step movement is now imparted to the car- A rier, and this last formed skein is moved into position to receive a binder, after which the several steps. of the binding operation above described, are repeated.

From. the above description it will be understood that the ends of the thread, constituting each individual skein, are securely bound or held, so that the loosening or unraveling of the skein is prevented In Fig. 14 of the drawings I have illus-, trated a. completed skein, with the binder applied thereto, from which it will be observed that the effective use of the binder is rendered possible principally reason of the fact that I have devised an improved methodof winding the skein, and an improved holder to receive the skein winding, as set forth in my several copending applications above identified. Nevertheless, it is not to be understood that I consider the subect .matter of the present application as necessarily limited in its application and use to such novel improvements in the art,

the improved binding mechanism may also be used in conjunction with other skein windlng methods and skein supporting devices. However, it may be here stated that a binder applied in the manner heretofore described, to a skein formed in the manner disclosed in my prior application Serial No. 314,647, affords a convenient means for indicating the location of the crossed ends of the skein winding, and which may be readily grasped between the lingers to socurely hold the thread ends whiletho several superposed series of skein loops are sep arated into a single series of elongated ment, which would release the binder strip from the skein, by means of the bent or clenched tongues 127 which project from one side of the binder at an angle with relation to the plane of the connected ends of the paper strip. The paper strip, being comparatively wide, and preferably of white color, may be readily located without difliculty. Heretofore such skeins have been bound by means of a very fine metal wire, and it was a matter of some difficulty and consumed considerabletime to locate this wire binder so that it could be removed and the thread ends separated from the loops. This was particularly true where the thread was of a dark color. The present improvement completely obviates Such difiiculty and inconvenience to the purchaser, and also provid-es a' very inexpensive binding for the skein.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, mode of operation and several advantages of my improved understood. I have herein disclosed the embodiment of the invention which I have i i found to give highly satisfactory service in practice. Th1s mechanism is relatively s11n-.

ple in its construction, positive and reliable in the operation of its several parts, and not liable to get out of order. In so far as I am aware, I believe it to be entirely new in the art to automatically apply a paper binder to a thread skein in the manner heretofore disclosed. Accordingly, it will be understood that while I have illustrated in the accom- ,panying drawings, one practical embodiment of the invention, the mechanism is susceptible to many minor modifications in the form, construction and arrangement of its several parts, and I therefore, reserve the privilege of adopting all such changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

1., In combination with "means for successively forming a series of skeins from a continuous thread, mechanism for applying a binder to the skein, means for effecting a relative bodily movement between the ske in and binding mechanism, means for actuat-.

ing the binding mechanism at the end of such relative movement in one, direction to secure the binder to the skein, and means automatically operable upon such relative movement in the opposite direction to sever the thread strand extending between the ad the binding mechanism at the end of such relative movement in one-direction to secure the binder to the skein, and means carried by the binding mechanism and automatically operable upon such relative movement in the opposite direction to sever the thread strand extending between i the adjacent skeins; a I

' 3. In combination with meansfor successively forming a series of skeins from a con tinuous thread, mechanism for applying a binder to theskein, means for effecting a relative bodily movement-between the skeins and binding mechanism, means for automatically actuating said mechanism at the end of such relative bodily movement in one direction to apply the binder to a skein,

' thread-gripping 1 means, and means automatically operating to effectively engage the gripping means with the thread strand extending between adjacent skeins upon the relative movement of the skeins and bundling mechanism in opposite direction, and to also sever the thread strand during such relative movement.

4. In combination with means for succes sively forming a series of skeins from a continuous thread, mechanism for applying a binder to the skein, means for bodily shifting said mechanism into and out of operative position with relation to; the; skeins,

thread-gripping means, an element movable withthe binding mechanism adapted to engage a thread strand extending between the adjacent skeins in the movement of said mechanism to its operative position and dispose the thread strand in positionto be gripped, means movable with the binding mechanism and coacting with the gripping means to permit of the positioningof the thread strand, means for actuating the binding mechanism to apply a binder to a skein, said gripping means being released in the reverse bodily movementjof said mechanism to its normal position, and said element havtiveposition with relation to, the skeins,

thread-gripping means, an element movable with the binding mechanism adapted to engage a thread strand extending between the adjacent skeins in the movement of said mechanism to its operative position and dis pose the thread strand in position to be 7 gripped, means movable with the binding mechanism and coactin'g with the gripping means to permit of the positioning of the thread strand, means for actuating the binding mechanism to apply a binder to a skein,

said gripping means being released in the reverse bodily movement of said. mechanism to its normal position, said element having acutting edge to subsequently sever the thread strand between the adjacent skeins, and means for automatically feeding a binder in the latter movement of said mechanism into position to be subsequently applied to a skein. r 6. Skein binding, mechanism including paper strip feeding means, an apertured plate upon which the strip is fed to a position to receive a part of the skein thereon, means for severing a portion of the paper strip, means for folding the'severed portion of the strip upon itself to embrace and bind the skein strands and to retain the folded binder upon said plate, and means subse- 'quently operable and adapted to be projected through the opening in said plate to bend portions of'the engaged ends of the binder, and thereby unite the binder ends to each other.

7. Skein binding mechanism including paper strip feeding means, an apertured plate upon which the strip is fed to a position to receive a part of the skein thereon, means for guiding and transversely flexing the paper strip in the feeding movement thereof, means for severing a portion of the paper strip,- means for folding the severed portion of the strip upon itself to embrace and bind the skein strands andto retain the folded binder upon said plate, and means subsequently operable and adapted to be projected through the opening in said plate to bend portions of the en aged ends of the binder, and thereby unite the binder ends to each other.

8. A skein binding mechanism including a paper strip feeding means, means for guidmg the paper strip to position to receive a part of the skein thereon, means for severing a portion of the paper strip, means for folding the severed portion upon itself to embrace and bind the skein strands, a common actuating means for the paper strip cutting means and the folding means, and additional means for bending parts of the engaged ends of the folded binder to thereby unite the binder. ends to each other.

9. In combination with means for successively forming a series of skeins from a continuous thread, means for applying a binder to the skein, means for actuating the binding mechanism, thread-gripping means, means for positioning the thread strand extending between adjacent skeins for efi'ective engagement by said threadgripping means, and means operable after. the skein has been bound to sever the thread strand held by said gripping means. 10. In combination with means for successivelyforming a series of skeins from a continuous thread, mechanism for applying a binder to the skein m'eans for automatically feeding the binders for application to the successively formed skeins, means for' actuating the binding mechanism, threadgripping means, means for positioning the thread strand extending between adjacent skeins for effective engagement by Said thread-gripping means, and means operable .after the skein has been bound to severthe thread strand held 1:. J said gripping means. r 11. In combination with.means for successively forming a series of skeins from a continuous thread, a skein binding mechanism, means for effecting avrelative bodily movement between the skeins and the bind-] ing' mechanism, means Y for automatically operating said mechanism at the end of such movement in one direction, threadgripping means, means to engage the thread strand extending between adjacent skeins during such relative movement and position. the strand for engagement by said vgri "ping. means, and means operable in the relative movement of' the skeins and binding mechanism in the 'opposite direction .to sever the strand. I

12. In combination with means for successively forming a series of skeins from a continuous thread, a skein binding mechanism, means for effecting a relative bodily movement between the skeins and the binding mechanism, means for automatically operating said mechanism at the end of such movement in one direction, threadrippin means, meansto engage the threa stran extending between adjacent skeins during such relative movement and position the strand for engagement by said gripping means, means operable-in the relative movement of the skeins and binding mechanism in the opposite direction to sever the strand, and means automatically actuated during the latter operation to feeda binder tothe' bindin mechanism. g 13. kein binding mechanism including at paper strip feeding means, means for enpaper strip, means for folding the severed gaging and transversely flexing the paper strip in the feeding movement thereof to a position to receive part of the skein thereon, means for severing a portion of the portion of the strip upon itself to embrace and bind the skein strands, and automatic means subsequently operable to bend portions'of the'engaged ends of the folded binder and thereby unite the binder ends to each other.

14. Skein binding mechanism including meansfor feeding a flexible binder, means for transversely flexing the binder in the feeding movement thereof to a position to receive a part of the skein thereon, means for folding the flexible binder upon itself to embrace and bind the skein strands, and

.automatic means subsequently operable to unite the engaged ends of the flexible binder to each other.

15. A skein binding mechanism comprisingmeans for feeding a flexible binder, a

curved guide for flexing the binder transversely uring the feeding movement thereofto a position to receive a part of the skein thereon, means for folding the binder upon itself to embrace and bind the skein strands, and meansfor uniting the ends of the binder together.

16. In. a skein binding mechanism comprising means for feeding a flexible binder, means for foldin it upon itself to embrace and bind the ske n strands, means for uniting the ends of the binder, and a guide for flexing the binder transversely as it is fed .into position to receive the skein strands.

, 17. In a skein binding mechanism comprising means for feedin a flexible binder,

means for severing the inder, means for folding the binder upon itself to inclose the skein strands, means for securing the ends of the binder together and an elongated,

transversely curved guide through which the binder is fed into positionto receive the skein strands.

18. A skein'binding mechanism for folding a flexible binder about a series of skein strands comprising bifurcated fingers to engage the strands, a-perforated plate adapted to be positioned on one side of the strands, means for feeding a flexible binder between the plate and the strands, an armhaving a erforatedend for engaging and folding the binder u on the strands so that the two free ends wil lie parallel with each other and means adapted to operate through the perforations in the arm and the plate to pierce the twoends of the binder to thereby unite them. I

19. A skein binding mechanism comprising means for engaging a series of skein strands, means for-feeding a flexible binder to one side of the strands, means for severing the binder, an arm for engaging the sev- 130 the skein strands so that the free ends of the binder lie parallel With each other,

means for actuating the arm, and a punch for perforating the ends of the binder to thereby unite them. v

20. In combination with a skein forming mechanism havinga skein holder provided with spaced, bifurcated skein-engaging fingers, a skein binding mechanism comprising spaced, bifurcated skein-engaging fingers adapted to cooperate with the skein-engag ing fingers of the holder to hold a series of skein strands between them, means for feeding a flexible binder into osition to be fold-- ed about the skein stran s means for folding the binder about the sixein strands, and

means for securing the ends of the binder together. p

21; A .ske in binding mechanism comprising means for supporting a series ofskein strands, means for feeding a strip or flexiblebinder to one side of the strands, means for severing the strip, an arm, means for supporting and aotuatin' the arm to impart thereto a pivotal and longitudinal movement to cause it to fold the binder about the skein strands, and means for securing the ends of the binder together.

22. A skein binding mechanism comprising a pivoted arm for supporting-means for feeding a flexible; binder into position to be folded about a series of skein strands, means for severing the binder, means for folding the binder about the skein strands, means carried by the arm for actuating the severing means and the folding means, and a punch carried by the arm for perforating the ends of the binder to secure them together.

28. A skein binding mechanism comprising spaced, bifurcated fingers for engaging a series of skein strands, means for feeding a flexible binder into position to be folded about the skein strands, a" curved guide for flexing the binder transversely as it is fed into position, means for severing the binder, an arm for engaging and folding the binder about the skein strands, means for supporting and actuating the arm and means for securing the ends of the binder together.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name.

I MAX OTTO CLAUSS, 

